Step1
Recipe for Success? Just say YES!
What do you do when your toddler demands a nice, shiny, compact block of combined sugar, Tartrazine and MSG’s just before the evening meal? Do you just say YES to keep the peace? Failure to do so may result in severe protrusion of the bottom lip, followed by trembling chin and downcast eyes. Advanced reactions include violent thrashing about of all four limbs, accompanied by a piercingly shrill scream that steadily increases in volume. The only known cure for this alarming reaction is to give in, right? WRONG! The trick is to play smart. Offering healthy alternatives to sweets is easier than you think.
I told my daughter that the foods I substituted for sweets (raisins or other dried fruit, nuts, fresh fruit, frozen yoghurt or baby vegetables) were considered very special foods in Fairyland, because they gave the Fairy Queen her magic powers. She bought it every time! If you make it sound like a great treat, your child will eat it!
Forget all the lessons you’ve ever learned about which foods compliment others, and don’t even attempt to make it look good when you dish it up! Whoever decided that gravy should not be served with ice cream was definitely not a parent! Any self-respecting toddler will tell you that peas were invented so that they could be shoved irretrievably up the nearest available orifice! And never forget that all food should be smothered in the cheapest, runniest Tomato Sauce – the type that is most easily smeared all over the table, the chairs and your toddler!
The trick is to make sure that mealtimes don’t become war zones. Arguments every meal time can teach her to associate food with friction. Instead, try smaller servings. Sometimes the sight of a full plate can be quite daunting for a little one. Make sure you praise her once she’s finished her food – no matter how small the portion may have been.
Toddlers love variety. I’ve found that “Snack platters” are a big hit with my daughter. Try serving a few bite-sized portions of cheese, some baby tomatoes, apple slices, chopped up sausage, carrot and cucumber sticks, and some toast sliced into “fingers”. It takes next to no time to prepare and you can really let your imagination go wild. It’s also a great way to ensure your child is getting plenty of fruit and vegetables.
If she still refuses to eat, she’s either just not hungry, or she may be coming down with something. Monitor it for a few days, and get her ch
Step2
Encourage your child’s individuality
When your little angel refuses to wear the clothes you have so lovingly and painstakingly chosen for her to wear, don’t raise your voice or force your choice on them. It is always prudent when dealing with this species to give in as much as possible.
At this stage of development, toddlers are discovering their sense of self. They love to experiment with colour and texture, and will soon develop a taste of what they like and feel comfortable in. Encourage her to express her individuality – it builds self confidence, and by respecting her choices, you are teaching your child to do the same to others. So, send the Fashion Police on holiday – who really cares if she ventures out in public wearing her purple Barney slippers, orange corduroys and the green tank top appliquéd with giant red strawberries? Ignore the horrified stares of her teachers, smile bravely when the other parents laugh hysterically, and keep your sense of humour.
However, do ensure that you take numerous photographs of her each morning. These may come in handy when she turns 15 and blackmail and bribery becomes necessary!
Step3
Why, why, why?
Asking a thousand questions a day is as natural to a toddler as throwing a tantrum. Be very careful how you answer, because you can rest assured that any information you entrust to your toddler’s care WILL be repeated (usually with an embarrassing twist).
The game of Question and Answer helps your child to learn about language, and to make sense of the world around him. What may seem a simple concept to us, can be a complicated idea to a three year old. Toddlers ask a lot of questions because they need time to absorb the answers we give them. Try to keep your answers simple and be patient. And when you feel as if you are about to scream with frustration, remember that your child is asking you for information because she trusts you.
Novice 
